Resources

Essential Information

Offered:

  • SP1, 2008
  • SP2, 2008
  • SP3, 2008

Core Unit for:

Elective Unit for:

Assessment:

  • Assignment 40%
  • Examination 60%

Pre-Requisites:

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UNIT 501: ADVANCED PROJECT MANAGEMENT


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Overview

This unit builds on the concepts explored in Unit 303-Project Management, with a particular emphasis on the complexities involved in managing high-risk technology projects. It covers both the technical and the human side of advanced project management. Pre-requisite: Unit 303—Project Management.

Aims

After studying this unit you should be able to:

  • identify the high-risk factors in projects and the sources of uncertainty in technology intensive projects
  • apply 'systems' thinking to the definition of project scope and contract relationships
  • determine appropriate strategies to manage risk related to contract scope, work authorisation and authority, progress measurement and product performance for advanced technology systems
  • select appropriate techniques to control the scope, design and acceptance of these complex deliverables and specialty effort
  • explain why the degree of definition of a project has a direct influence on the accuracy of the forecast of its cost
  • explain the processes required and the commercial considerations involved in business case and tender preparation
  • apply the principles of quality and value management throughout the life cycle of a project
  • investigate the application of appropriate non-adversarial contractual relationships for the most efficient delivery of a project

Topics

  • Advanced project management
  • Definition and authority
  • Risk
  • Defining and managing scope
  • Acquisition strategy and development models
  • System definition and configuration management
  • Business cases and tenders
  • Performance management
  • Quality and value management
  • Relationship contracting

Unit Chair & Study Guide Author

Geoff Barton
BEng(Elec & Mech), MBA

Geoff has over 20 years' experience in project and program management, mostly in the areas of defence, telecoms and IT. Projects he has managed have ranged from missiles and remotely piloted vehicles, through industrial controls and software development, to setting up companies. Geoff is currently Managing Director of a small project management company, he is a consultant to Centrelink & Defence, and is managing a small software development contract in Melbourne.

Study Guide Author

Ronald Sulman
BA Hons, Dip. Elec Eng., Grad. Dip. Applied Econ., MIE (Aust)

Ron Sulman is a management consultant who has had a long involvement with the management of advanced technology projects. As a consultant, and during a 22-year career in the Royal Australian Navy, he has worked in many Australian and overseas shipbuilding projects which have been established for the refit, modernisation, and construction of a range of ships and submarines.

During the last six years he has been continually involved in the bidding and management of a number of large defence and telecommunications projects. As a consultant to a research foundation he has participated in the definition and conduct of benchmarking survey of World’s Best Management Practice in Technology projects. He is familiar with management education programs through his involvement as a Visiting Member of Directing Staff at Mt. Eliza Business School.